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| IJA Kure 5th SNLF (Tank Platoon)  AWM August 1942  Anderson October 19, 1942 |
Tank History Delivered to the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) as Type 95 Ha Go Light Tank. Wartime History Assigned to the Kure 5th Special Naval Landing Force (Kure 5th SNLF) Tank Platoon and transported as cargo to the South Pacific. On August 24, 1942 departs Rabaul as cargo aboard either Nankai Maru or Kinai Maru as part of Operation RE the Japanese landing at Milne Bay. On August 26, 1942 in the early morning hours Type 95 Ha Go Milne Bay No. 1 was loaded into a Daihatsu landing barge and landed at the "Western Landing Point" to the east of Waga Waga. Meanwhile, this tank landed in another Daihatsu landing barge at the same location. Ashore, the tanks with SNLF follow the rough, muddy main road (Route 5) to engage the first resistance, an Australian Army patrol of 14 soldiers led by Lt. Bert Robinson and force them to fall back. By dawn, the tanks and SNLF were advanced toward Koebule Mission (KB Mission). On August 27, 1942 after dark, the tanks advanced to the eastern edge of Koebule Mission (KB Mission). The defending Australian Army 2/10 Battalion soldiers heard their engines and saw their headlights and initially mistook them for friendly Bren Gun carriers arriving as reinforcements. At 8:00pm the tanks supported by SNLF marines attacked B Company on the north side of the road. Shortly afterwards the second tank attacked C Company on the south side of the road nearest to Milne Bay. Machine gun fire with tracers from the tanks set fire to a hut and caused grass fires. The Australians lacked anti-tank weapons but attempted to use sticky bombs to disable the tanks but they failed to stick or detonate. On August 28, 1942 around midnight, the Japanese captured KB Mission then continued to advance westward and successfully crossed the Gama River. On August 29, 1942 both tanks became bogged down on a rough road near Rabi (Rabe) one in a ditch and the other along the roadway. Afterwards, the Japanese removed their main guns and machine guns and abandoned both. Wreckage Afterwards, both tanks were captured intact by the Australian Army and recovered to Milne Bay. Later, both main guns were found and reinstalled in each tank turret. Afterwards, both tanks were shipped to Australia arriving by the middle of October 1942 and underwent technical evaluation then toured Australia on a war bond drive. Postwar At the end of World War II, both tanks were sold by Commonwealth disposals auction and purchased by Huges Trading Company in Coburg, Victoria and stored in their outdoor yard. Display This tank is displayed at the Royal Australian Armour Corps Museum. References History of Battles of IJA Tanks / Milne by Akira Takizawa Milne Bay 1942 (1992) pages XXX Contribute
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